...Information Flows in Organizations In today technological era, information technology (IT) applications have taken over the communications of business collaborations, industry operations, and customer connection. Corporate data are essential to organization's survival rate since these are decisive factors in maintaining their competitiveness on the market. Even for companies in non-Internet industries, they still need assistance from network capabilities for communication and collaboration. Information flow determined the daily operation flow within a company. Depending on the field that the organization falls into, these data can be internal, external, or both. By digitalized most of the physical documents, it is also important to enforce necessary security in order to protect essential information of the organizations and their clients. Due to the enormous amount of information collected on a daily basis, organizations tend to struggle to manage the high volume of physical documents without the help of IS database storage. Databases reduce the amount of physical documents by storing the information in a systematic way. The Information are collected from marketing, sales, customer connectivity, supply chain inventory and external data. These information provides a closer look at the status of the business's standing. The information comes in huge clumps. In order to crunch through the huge datasets, we rely on huge data management vendors whom are working as database warehouse...
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...Information Flow in an Organization , information is created for meaning, decision making and sharing of knowledge. Just like a river flowing information flows from one place to another, into every house, school or organization. The flow begins with the creation of the data at a terminal; this is the beginning of the information flow. From there the information flows down the pipeline through the network which is like a pipeline. Within this network of pipes you have the switching and routing of the information flow, like the valves used to push water from one location to another. From there the information flows to storage facilities like large storage facilities, these facilities in a data network are the servers, mainframes are used in conjunction with software to store, collate, and share the data just waiting to be accessed and shared. Once a person turns on the faucet or access the information the flow starts again, from the storage facility to another set of switches/routers or valves. This information is accessed like getting a drink of water. Information flow within an organization is an ever evolving process; it is circular in nature according to its activities. Chesapeake Energy’s information flow starts with the design of the information network or pipeline, network circuits include cell modems, T1 and fiber circuits. From here the routers and switches are put in place to send the information to the right storage facility or server. Software is created to determine...
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...Information Flow and its use in Business Organizations John J. Miller II CIS 207/Information Systems Fundamentals University of Phoenix Information Flow and Business Use Historically information flowed into organizations via many different methods, and often still is, and was very difficult to access, verify, and otherwise use the information simply because many of the systems in place did not communicate with each other. The purpose of this paper will be to briefly describe how information moves into, around, and out of an organization and why that information is important to the organization. I will also discuss how this information is safe guarded from unauthorized use. Information “Information refers to data that have been organized so that they have meaning and value to the recipient.” “Data items refer to an elementary description of things, events, activities, and transactions that are recorded, classified, and stored but not organized to convey any specific meaning.” (Rainer, Cegielski, 2011, pp. 13) The purpose of Information Systems (IS) is to gather data from various sources and compile it into information that is of use to the person requesting it. As stated above though, this has not always been the case. In the matter of Executive Information Systems (EIS) data was not outputted into a standardized format, and it was extremely difficult to generate customized or ad hoc reports. Information Technology (IT) architecture...
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...IT/205 | How information is used and how it flows in an organization | Mat Waer | How information is used and how it flows in an organization Before we can understand how information flows through a functioning business we need to understand the meaning of information. Information is defined on google as facts provided or learned about something or someone (Define Information). So, if we plug that definition into the original question Ask.com defines it as “Information is constantly flowing through organizations and acts as the blood of the company. When information is no longer allowed to flow through an organization, the organization will eventually begin to collapse.”("What Is Information Flow In An Organization?", 2015) Now, for the information to function correctly there needs to be a hierarchy from where the information comes from. I currently am an Executive Chef for a restaurant group here in Portland, Oregon. There are currently 15 restaurants, 3 bakeries and 1 fine dining restaurant with in the company. In order to be successful we need to have very defined path that information that flows with in our organization. First we have the Owner (Tracy) she oversees the entire flow of the business. Not so much the day to day but where the business flow thru the market, and the overall vision of the business. Then we have the CEO (Felix) he is the decision maker and leader of the company. Whenever control/systems change or need moved around he is the one...
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...How Information Is Used and How It Flows In an Organization Student’s Name Class Title Due Date Instructor’s Name How Information Is Used and How It Flows In an Organization Information flows in different directions and different means: formally and informally, downward, upward and even horizontally through various levels. According to Opara, “information is the life blood of modern organizations” (Opara, 2003). Without “information”, organizations would most likely collapse as information is required to run the day-to-day doings of a business. Olowu states that “information entails data, facts, imaginations, ideas, opinions and cultural values in a variety of media which includes print, audio-visual materials and electronic processes” (Olowu, 2004). This shows how information flows within and between cultural groups. This represents an important part of “alternative conceptualization” (Nissen, 2002), which focuses on transaction (e.g. data to information, information to knowledge). This means data is necessary to produce information which, in turn, is necessary for creating knowledge that is conveyed (e.g. via paper, network, speech and observable action). And C.C. Aguolu feels that information is “the message of human experience” (Aguolu, 2002); rather, what is basically a stimulus assumes a response in the receiver, and possesses a response itself. This message can be made in any medium, in any language or in any subject. Some psychologists have even described...
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...of Phoenix INFORMATION USE PAPER IT/205 Ivy Chiangwa Matthew Juliana April 24, 2015 This paper will discuss various aspects related to how information is used and how it flows in an organization. I will try to gain further insight by identifying the information flow in my current place of employment. Other than discussing the use of information, this paper will also discuss the various challenges in controlling the information flow and how can organization keep it safe from unauthorized use. Information flow and use in an organization It is important to first discuss information before describing its uses and how it flows. Information refers to data that has been organized in a way to give meaning and value to the recipient (Rainer & Cegielski, 2011). In an organization, the information can refer to various events, activities in a workplace or various transactions that are recorded and organized to convey a meaning. Information can also be contained in facts, ideas, imagination, opinions which can be present in various media such as print, audio and video (Olowu, 2004). Data is gathered using information systems which further process this data to convert it into useful information. Information is a necessity in every part of the organization such as finance, human resource, management, sales etc. Without information, the organization would collapse since information is the life blood of modern organizations (Opara, 2003). Usually information flows in two ways in...
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...How information is used and how it flows in an organization is as follows: Information in an organization is used for a myriad of different processes throughout an organization. Information flow through an organization is a duplicate image of an organizations activities. Making a model of an organizations activities goes a long way in helping to build an effective strategy for competing in today’s business world. The three things that are generally looked at in the process of information flow is cost, time, and the information path. A break down of these three components is as follows: Cost will show how much the present implemented information processes cost. Time would show us the current speed of information being transferred to the user of said information. IE: how much time it would take for management to receive the right information from say a warehouse, etc. The third component is the path. The path gives information about the size of information flow net elements that information goes through to make it to the information user. These three components are closely relative to each other and therefore make any analysis difficult. Essentially, information runs in a circular pattern. It is very similar to how water flows down a drain in a circular pattern. Once the water is in the drainage line, it goes through a series of pipes, of different sizes and direction. Organizations utilize information in a very...
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...Information Use Crystal Mays-Hammond IT/205 July 27, 2014 Juan Vega Information, an essential asset for organizations, is always difficult to manage effectively—and it is even more so in periods of economic turmoil and transition, when complexity increases and the stakes are higher. For the past decade or more, organizations have been striving to build more open and collaborative relationships with their customers, partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders. When the recession took hold, many such initiatives took a back seat as cost-cutting became first priority. Organizations collect and distribute information. An organization uses information strategically in three areas: to make sense of change in its environment; to create new knowledge for innovation; and to make decisions about courses of action. These apparently distinct processes are in fact complementary pieces of a larger canvas, and the information behaviors analyzed in each approach interweave into a richer explanation of information use in organizations. Through sense making, people in an organization give meaning to the events and actions of the organization. Through knowledge creation, the insights of individuals are converted into knowledge that can be used to design new products or improve performance. Finally, in decision making, understanding and knowledge are focused on the selection of and commitment to an appropriate course of action. By holistically managing its sense making, knowledge building...
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...Information Use Paper Anthony Michelli IT/205 May 12, 2014 Michael Peterson Information Use Paper Information runs in a circular pattern. Much like how water cycles through a water plant, into a plumbing system, which can then go into different buildings and those buildings pass the water down back into the plumbing system. Organizations use information in a similar fashion where a customer will give information of a purchase, that purchase information is then stored into a database. From the database, the credit card information or other needed information when regarding purchases goes to the appropriate destinations such as banks, warehouses, distribution centers, etc. From those destinations, the information is passed back into a database. These patterns are referred to as information flows. The information flows allow an organization to carry out their services or distribute products. The more effective an information flow, the more effective an organization operates, flourishes, and expands and a business or non profit organization. Due to what information can do for an organization, information is kept closely guarded and is treated as a valuable piece of any organization and is considered a material resource. The information flow patterns are heavily secured as one organization would not want their information, nor their consumer’s sensitive information, to be compromised by an outside entity. Information, when treated as a material resource, helps managers...
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...The Flow of Information CIS/207 Organizations today use information in more than ways than one can count. Information is so important today because it is used by organizations and businesses to keep everyday business processes and day-to-day operations running smooth and without glitches. As I have looked at many business and organizational sources both in person and on the internet, I have found that a large majority of these have the information flow start at the top in the executive area. This is what I like to call the trickle-down effect. Information is set to flow among the business and organization and starts at the top and goes all the way to the bottom. During that time, information can be changed to allow only that information that is needed in a certain department or area. If it wasn’t for the information that is provided by businesses and organizations, the business infrastructure as we know it can come to a screeching halt. Keeping that information moving and safe is one of the most important jobs in the business world today. The Freedom Mission Inc. is a not for profit organization that I have had the opportunity to work with and help build their network. Freedom Mission consists of many branches of mentorship programs including middle school at risk mentoring, drug and alcohol counseling, anger management, parenting, and also works with the community to help economically challenged families in the community. The way the information flow pattern is...
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...Information Use Information Use Information can be used in a variety of ways in today’s world. Companies use it to track profits and losses others use it to see into future trends so they can make informed decisions about where their business should be in a certain market. According to Opara (2003) “Information is the life blood of modern organizations.” Without information organizations would be making decisions blind. Information in a modern organization flows in a circular motion. For an example of how a major car dealership uses information it gathers. A customer who is prospecting for a new vehicle enters a car dealership not sure of what kind of vehicle he or she may want. An associate greats the new customer and asks a few question to discover what the customer is looking for. This would be the input information that the associate will use to enter into an information system (IS) from this system the associate can help the customer choose what vehicle he or she may be looking for. The information is presented to the customer, after looking at the information the customer chooses a vehicle he or she wants to purchase. The associate inputs his or her personal information into an IS to qualify the customer for financing the vehicle. The information is used by the finance department to set up the financial obligation that the customer will have to pay. Once again the information is cycled back to the customer for his or her input. After the sale of the vehicle the information...
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...Organizational Information Flow Garrett Strack CIS207 May 14th, 2012 Bob Sanders Organizational Information Flow Usage Information within an organization can be used in many different ways in an organization. Information can be used to make critical decisions for businesses that can have a large impact. Decisions such as what raw materials to order, when to order them, and at what price are all decisions that must be made with accurate information in order to remain profitable. If such decisions are not made with credible information a company may find itself not making a profit. Also an organization must have valid information to determine a fair and marketable price for their finished good but yet also be able to clear any overhead cost’s such as shipping or storage. The must also take into account things like electricity, human resources, and any other cost’s associated with the manufacture of their product. All of these things require information to flow between the different business units of an organization. Flow An organization’s information generally flows in two directions, upstream and downstream. Decisions made at the upper management levels and trickling down to the lower level employees would be an example of downstream information flow. Many critical decisions are made by managers and executives on a daily base that affect the day to day functions of an organization. On the opposite side of that coin many of the decisions executive make are based...
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...Information Use Introduction Information flow through an organization is the process by which data is sent and received in both external and internal aspects (www.opengroup.org, 1995). External aspects are anything flowing into the organization or out from the organization. This flow, for example, can be represented by ordered supplies entering the company, or by finished product being shipped to the customer. Internal aspects are the flow of communication between all the companies working parts. These parts can be manufacturing, legal, finance, maintenance, etc. To effectively tie all these components together in a safe way, an organization might invest in an Enterprise Resource Planning system, or ERP for short. This system, although expensive, can monitor and control all aspects of data transfer within an organization. Using an ERP system can accurately report inventories, product details, work audits, and several other aspects of running a business (www.netsuite.com, 2001). Most important of all is accuracy. By Utilizing an ERP system the business will have several checkpoints where products and the processes for creating them are monitored. By always sending out the right product or information an organization can save a fortune in clean up costs and legal fees in the event of an error. An organization must also look at physical and network security options to protect all their assets, the integrity of the ERP system, and any other critical data flowing through...
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...important in any organization. Discuss Communication is an interactive process in which meaning is stimulated through sending and receiving verbal and non-verbal messages. Verbal messages refer to encoding of messages into words either written or spoken while non-verbal messages involve encoding of messages by means of facial expressions, body language and styles of dress. Organization is a social unit of people that is working together to achieve individual or collective goals. Organization communication lays the keystone to every organization for upbringing and grooming the environment of that particular organization. Communication can flow in four different ways in an organization as follow, Upward communication is the flow of information from the lowest level to the highest level in an organization. An example of upward communication includes reports of progress from subordinates to management, Complains/grievances, Suggestions. Downward communication is the flow of information from the highest level to lowest level in an organization. Examples when your boss shares information with you, its downward communication, because your boss, as your supervisor, is communicating with you as an employee. Horizontal communication is a flow of information between the same level employees in an organization, example sharing of ideas between employees of the same level or department. Diagonal communication is a flow of information between a manager...
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...tutorialspoint.com Introduction In an organization, information flows forward, backwards and sideways. This information flow is referred to as communication. Communication channels refer to the way this information flows within the organization and with other organizations. In this web known as communication, a manager becomes a link. Decisions and directions flow upwards or downwards or sideways depending on the position of the manager in the communication web. For example, reports from lower level manager will flow upwards. A good manager has to inspire, steer and organize his employees efficiently, and for all this, the tools in his possession are spoken and written words. For the flow of information and for a manager to handle his employees, it is important for an effectual communication channel to be in place. The Working of a Communication Channel Through a modem of communication, be it face-to-face conversations or an inter-department memo, information is transmitted from a manager to a subordinate or vice versa. An important element of the communication process is the feedback mechanism between the management and employees. In this mechanism, employees inform managers that they have understood the task at hand while managers provide employees with comments and directions on employee's work. Importance of a Communication Channel A breakdown in the communication channel leads to an inefficient flow of information. Employees are unaware of what the company...
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